Buona Ristorante

Food was fantastic, can’t complain at all! Will definitely be back if we are in the area. We started off with the truffle fries and garlic knots, and the knots were def my favorite. I probably wouldn’t get the truffle fries again, my partner liked them more! The bolognese pasta was amazing, as was the pizza. Definitely a good dinner after a beach day!

Popped into Buona on a Sunday afternoon and wow—this place turned out to be the unsung hero of our hangover recovery mission. I ordered the pasta rustica, he went for a margherita pizza with added cherry tomatoes, and both hit the spot in the best way. The pasta was comforting and flavorful, the kind of dish that makes you pause mid-bite just to say, “Okay, this is good.” The pizza? Fresh, cheesy, and perfectly crisp with that little tomato zing. Service was quick, friendly, and didn’t overdo it—just how I like it. We weren’t expecting to be impressed, but we absolutely were. A low-key gem that delivers where it counts. Will definitely be back—next time, preferably without the hangover.

Best pasta ever! We ordered the papardelli with the vodka sauce and it was the best plate we’ve had! So good and the sauce is so tasty, we devoured. If you order an antipasto you can defo share the main plates between 2 people, they also bring some bread with oil and some crushed olives in it. 10/10 recommend!

What an unforgettable Good Friday lunch at Buona’s! This gem in the heart of St. Pete’s Beach Access serves authentic Italian dishes that shine. The shrimp risotto was divine, perfectly creamy and bursting with flavor, paired beautifully with a butter-salted shrimp starter. For dessert, Chef James’ tiramisu was a heavenly treat—rich, delicate, and simply perfect. The strong Italian menu offers so many tempting options, and the cozy vibe makes it a must-visit. Highly recommend!

⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️ A Hidden Gem in St. Pete Beach – A Must-Stop for Italian Lovers After vacationing in St. Pete Beach for over 20 years, we finally discovered Buona Ristorante—and what a find! This small, quaint establishment is a true hidden gem. From the moment we walked in, the warmth and charm of the place set the tone for an unforgettable evening. Our server, Susie, was absolutely phenomenal—attentive, personable, and incredibly knowledgeable about the menu. She made us feel right at home and elevated the entire dining experience. Now, the food… wow. As frequent diners at some of the best Italian spots on The Hill in St. Louis, we were blown away by the quality and flavor at Buona. The lobster and shrimp ravioli was simply outstanding—rich, delicate, and perfectly cooked. The bruschetta appetizer was fresh and flavorful, and even their bread with dipping oil and tapenade was so good it could be a meal on its own. This was our first visit, but it certainly won’t be our last. Buona Ristorante has officially earned a permanent spot on our must-visit list every time we return to St. Pete Beach. Highly recommended!

Teresa was a saint! She helped me with everything I would have needed. Super helpful and friendly 👌 Atmosphere was great they have outdoor seating in the front and out back on the channel. Super cute 😍 Food was great >> great options and fresh pizza 🍕😋!!! Definitely recommended coming in for dinner or late lunch with family. It's a beautiful, Italian restaurant ✨️

This is a great Italian restaurant not far from the beach with a wide variety of options. Our table ordered pizza, a couple kinds of pasta and an antipasto salad and some garlic cheese bread - a little bit of everything. And another great feature is there was lots of parking, even during spring break.

We came on a Sunday afternoon and to our surprise there was no wait. We took seating outside because of the beautiful weather. Service was prompt and food came out rather quickly. We ordered the short rib ravioli and the rosemary osso buco. Both very filling and both dishes were amazing and would come again. Finished it off with dessert

We had been looking for a good Italian dinner spot and after 3 misses, we found Buona. We absolutely loved it! We were a party 6 and they were able to seat us very quickly even being busy. The restaurant is very small so be prepared to sit outside, especially if you have a big party. The food was incredible! 4/6 of us ordered lasagna and we loved it. The portion was pretty big and overall delicious. The chicken parm was also good. When visiting this area again and craving Italian, we'll be back!

Was the most delish Italian food we've had in the area and we are from NY and know good Italian food! Mom had lobster ravioli and shrimp. I had risotto with veggies cream sauce. Choco cake was incredible too. Great service. Have to support the beach restaurants and this one makes it easy! Great service too. Thanks Lindsey.

Don't sleep on Buona. This is a small restaurant. Located on a strip mall on Gulf Blvd. It is near a Jersey Mikes, I think, anchored by a Dollar Tree, UPS Store, and a Starbucks on the corner. It is small but mighty. I believe there are not more than 10 tables when you walk in. Although, there is outside seating in the back. It's very scenic, facing the bay. The service is great. We were greeted and seated immediately. Luckily, that one table was available because it was a full house. Also, it was about 6:30ish, so that might not be the same at a later time. For the appetizer, we ordered the Calamari Fritti. They are made crispy, dusted with semolina. They include fried strips of zucchini, bell peppers, carrots, and hot cherry peppers. These were my favorite. Served with a pomodoro sauce. For entrees we got Wild Mushroom Pappardelle with shrimp. This was deliciuos. The egg pasta was bouncy and nicely cooked. Soooo many mushrooms all of it delightfully coated in a creamy mushroom, port wine, cream sauce that was to die for. I really did not need the yummy shrimp because there were enough mushrooms. I did not think I would finish the dish because it was a nice big portion but I ate it all!!!! My husband ordered a small pizza pie and he was impressed with the slightly sweet/savory taste of the sauce. He mentioned the crust was perfect. I took a bite and I could taste the freshness of the sauce and the care with which the pizza was made. The service was great. The server checke on us frequently. Filled our water cups and ensured our dishes were to our liking. And afterwards, take a walk to the back for a picturesque rest by the bay. Amazing.

We are so thankful the restaurant is still here after the hurricane! Everything looks amazing. Dining area was clean and nicely decorated. Our service was excellent and of course, the food was just as delicious as before! Thank you for another great dining experience with amazing food!

Looking for a spot away from DTSP and over on the water is always nice. Menu sounded awesome and reviews pretty good! Let's eat Italian! We were here early but it was still kinda busy. Small dinning area but there are tables out back. So nice! Warm but they have fans and misters. The view is awesome. Mathew was on the spot with waters and orders. No liquor but wine and beer choices were decent. We atart d with the mozzarella mezzaluma. Basically fried cheese. These red sauce is pretty tasty. Great flavors on the breading. Good starter. For my main I had the pasta rustica. Really didn't needthe chicken but really good. So many Flavors. It has crispy pancetta so careful adding salt. Deb had the Veal Picatta. Nice flavors. Large portions. Overall a really nice dinner. Watching the colors on the intercostal in the afternoon is so nice.

Delicious freshly made pasta and pizza! I had the Cacio e Pepe with shrimp very creamy and fresh , with husband had a very nice salad , we shared a margarita pizza nice slim crunchy crust delicious fresh tomato , outstanding customer service we sat outside nice shaded terrace with ocean breeze lovely lunch time , very family oriented, great quiet ambiance locals mostly. The tiramisu! It's perfection !!!

We came here for dinner before enjoying the sunset on the beach. Buona is located in a nice strip mall on St. Pete Beach. The restaurant was nice and clean. We were served right away by the friendly staff. I tried their lemocello spritz, which was light and refreshing. A perfect summer drink! We tried their 'Brussel Sprouts', as an appetizer which were flash-fried sprouts and cherry tomatoes with crispy pancetta, goat cheese, clover honey, and balsamic glaze. The sprouts were good and had a lot of flavor. I think they could've been fried more. I like my brussel sprouts extra crispy. For our entrees, I ordered their 'Cozze' as my meal. It was mussels with cherry tomatoes in a white wine, garlic, shallots, butter, lemon broth. It was light and delicious. It came with bread to dip in the delicious sauce. A perfect summer dish! My fiancé had their 'Wild Mushroom Pappardella' which was wide egg pasta with wild mushrooms in a porcini mushroom, port wine, and cream sauce. The pasta was freshly made! My fiancé said the pasta was very delicious and flavorful. This is a great spot to have a nice dinner. You can also order pizza or food for pickup. If we're ever in the area we'll definitely be back! @living.with.reg

The menu is a celebration of classic Italian comfort food. From to the robust lasagna, each dish is prepared with love and attention to detail. The pasta is perfectly al dente, the sauces are rich and flavorful, and the portions are generous. Don't miss the tiramisu for dessert - it's the perfect sweet ending to a satisfying meal. I was too eager to get into the food that I didn't take picture of our meal until the end .Matthew was such a help on helping us pick the perfect meal and suggest the amazing drinks - Berry sangria

This is our fav go to spot !!! When we're in the area ,definitely a weekly destination and the mushroom ravioli A1!!!

Long time favorite. Everything is really good. Cute outdoor patio, great service. Everything from pizza to risotto, you can't go wrong!

Food and service from Matt M. Made a perfect dinner for me and my soon to be wife. Everything we and friends have ever ordered at this establishment was nothing but the best. Sangria is a must. Pitcher also a must. Appetizers to pizza to seafood are top ! Thanks Matt M.

Went to Buona last month for a little date night. I have never been here before and saw some of the reviews were incredible. My friend Bri was in town for the weekend, and we decided to sit out back and enjoy the views of the water. We ordered a ton of food and everything was so delicious. I would recommend the brussels sprouts to anybody as they were the best brussels sprouts I've ever had, and I will be coming back for more. The pizza looked amazing and I have heard it is fantastic so I'll have to come back and try that out as well. Brussel sprouts: 9.9 Pasta: 8.4 Truffle fries: 7.7 Shrimp Risotto: 8.9 Scale system 10/10 would be what I want for my last meal 9.9-9.3 driving out of my way to get this 9.2-8.0 like the place and would go back 7.9-7.0 I would come here again if it were presented and don't have anything bad to say 6.9 and below - thanks but no thanks after trying once

We first visited Buona in 2020, the year of the virus. We chose to eat outdoors then to stay away from other guests. Have been back many times since then, choosing to eat out front, inside and out back depending on our mood and/or the weather. We have never been disappointed. Food is always excellent. Only problem is deciding what to choose. Try it!

Had the pizza and the lemon dessert and loved them both. They served warm bread with the oil and garlic and that was excellent too. Service was excellent.

What a lovely restaurant we found. Food and service were great! We tried Brussels sprouts (fantastic) , wings, veal scaloppini . The restaurant was just reopened after the hurricane and it was very busy.

The food and the service were outstanding!! Fernando was a great waiter. Homemade sangria was out of this world refreshing. Can't wait to come back and try more entrees

Quaint little restaurant. Don't be fooled by the strip mall location. Excellent food. Excellent service.

#buonaristorante is a family favorite! We go here every single St. Pete vacation! We had the yummiest dinner with PEI mussels, Frutti De Mare, Chicken Piccata, & Chicken Marsala while you're waiting for your food you receive fresh hot bread with olive oil. The service could have been better unfortunately but the food was 10/10! The ambiance is family friendly and it's small inside but sitting outside is really nice!

Our family came into St Pete's beach area and even though this restaurant is small they were able to accommodate 8 of us. We loved everything we ordered. The kids devoured their generous sized garlic knots, pizza, ravioli, etc while we had salmon and their house salad. We all left satisfied. They do not take reservations. We left our name and waited inside our cars until we were called. Nice wait staff.

Really good. Had the lasagna, pepperoni pizza, and garlic knots. Garlic knots are huge! The waiter was knowledgeable about the menu and helpful about finding out what our group wanted lol.

Delicious home-cooking Italian food! Once we discovered this place, we started coming regularly. The owners and staff are all very friendly and nice. Definitely give it a try, you will not be sorry! YUM!

The food and place was very good as they brought my family and I very delicious food. Not to mention the service, our waiter Fernando was very nice and polite to us recommending us new places and food choices. The ambiance was chill and calm as the customer enjoyed and expressed their feeling and more.

Our experience was fabulous and we are already wanting to return. Appetizer: We had the Brussels Sprouts appetizer which is so delicious! Entrees: My son had the Bolognese and he loved it. I had the Cacio e Pepe with chicken and was blown away. Dessert: We ended our meal with the homemade Tiramisu and the Chocolate Lovers Cake...YUM. Service: Our server, Suzy was on point and very kind. Other servers also greeted us kindly, they are a team! They know what they are doing here. I'm recommending this restaurant to everyone I know :)

Really good Italian food in a cozy place. I enjoyed the family friendly restaurant with very good food. The service was attentive and friendly. We will be back again soon.

Wow! Do not estimate this restaurant on its location in a strip mall. This is some of the best Italian food we've had anywhere. The veal parmigiana was awesome and very tender too. Chicken parmigiana was tasty too! The bolognese sauce and ravioli were homemade and outstanding. Make sure you leave room for the homemade tiramisu for dessert! The back patio was intimate with views into the bay. The service was great!

Some of the best Italian I've had in the US. The bread and olive tapenade served with entrees is excellent as is every pasta and pizza I've had. Must try the sangria!!

Nice small, cozy restaurant convenient to the resorts nearby. It's in a strip mall with amble parking. The Pasta Rustica was delicious with a great Rose sauce. The Spaghettini Pomodoro wasn't bad. The sausage was a bit too salty but cooked well. Overall a good experience and great service.

What a lovely little Italian restaurant, very quaint and cozy, if you are in the area, definitely put this on your place you gotta eat at list. We ordered the bruschetta, a side salad, lasagna, a tiramisu, and a cannoli. Can I just say, "Wow!" Everything was so flavorful. The presentation and taste of each dish was perfect! Boy were my tastebuds happy! They also give you fresh bread and an oil mixture to dip in, I could taste the olives. The bruschetta was absolutely the way I like it, the bread was not over done and the tomatoes were so yummy. I loved the lasagna as well, had the perfect balance of cheese to meat ratio. Yup! Two thumbs up for the desserts as well. Couldnt decide which I loved more. Our waitress, Suzy, did an excellent job with bringing the food out and refilling our drinks when needed. The place was hopping but it seemed to be running rather smoothly. Everyone looked to be enjoying their meals, relaxed atmosphere and their time with their family/friends. Dont miss out on this restaurant!

Even the bread was delicious. I had the saffron risotto pescatore, excellent! Friend had the lobster ravioli and shrimp, delicious! Our respective spouses had pizzas. Skip the pizza! Go for the adult food! We were too full for dessert. We will be back!

Loved everything about our experience at Buona. The food was delicious, atmosphere amazing, friendly and accommodating staff. We all enjoyed our meals very much and the tiramisu was to DIE FOR. We will most definitely come back again

The food was amazing. The server was great. Outdoor dining was also available which is needed with a noisy 6 year old in the group. If we weren't from out of town we'd be back again!

We ordered online and the food was prepared fairly quickly! The pizza and garlic knots where HOT and FRESH! It was absolutely delicious. We actually took the pizza to the beach to watch the sunset and it was absolutely perfect for us. We also ordered the kids Alfredo, for a small portion and their bread. Which were also both fairly good also.

OMG. This is a 5 star for sure. We had the bruschetta which was fabulous. Then we had the short rib ravioli. The best I've ever had. We had and piped cannolis and Tiramisu. This is fresh made Italian food done really well. They have a back porch overlooking the bay which is a perfect setting.

I ordered takeout/pickup. I am vegetarian, so I had a lot of questions and the woman that answered the phone was very patient with me. I ordered the eggplant Parm, it did not disappoint. It also came with a side of bread, which was soft and delicious The dipping oil it came with was amazing. When I came to pick it up, the restaurant was packed. As soon as I walked in the door, the woman who took my order, said my name and had my order ready. I highly recommend this restaurant.

An excellent Italian restaurant tucked away in a large shopping center in st Pete beach. This is my second time here the first was during COVID. the food has been consistently good. The interior is nice and welcoming and the tables are spaced far away enough that you don't feel cramped. They have a very well balanced wine list but we opted for half bottle of the Cab from montepulciano. It was very good so I suggest trying that if you only want few glasses. The pasta e fagioli was excellent, very nice flavor to it. We had the caprese fir an appetizer which was good but around a c+. The complimentary bread is very good and comes with an excellent olive oil. We shared a pasta dish with shrimp, clams, mussels and calamari. The seafood was plentiful and the white wine based seafood sauce full of flavor. This is an excellent dish and for the price It has much more seafood than I expected. The service was pretty good with one minor glitch a b+.

The menu is extensive and very creative. The flavors and recipes are excellent. The pizzas are varied and very delicious.

We met our niece and beau up here for lunch as they were vacationing in St Pete. greeted promptly and seated right away. Started out with calamari, it was ok. our meals were chicken parmigiana and the chicken piccata. Both meals were very good. it should be noted that our server spilled a glass of water on our table and we were done eating, she brought complimentary deserts for all to go to say she was sorry for spilling the water. a real nice touch that was not expected.

Hi, how are you doing! I'm good The food is so good. The weight staff is so friendly and accommodating, the atmosphere is really nice. They have an outdoor seating area and indoor seating area. They have a great selection of beer and wine and all of the food is homemade. You just can't beat that when you're on vacation. It's top-notch.

Learned a new foodie lesson tonight - don't rely on yelpers photographs of menus, go to their website and look at their menu! I chose this restaurant because they had a dish - which we had tried in St. Louis and was wonderful! I was so happy to find a place that served it here. Our server said that item has not been on the menu for four or five years! They were nice enough to make the dish for us. (They really should put it back on the menu because it was wonderful. Hint hint) The antipasto salad was good for three of us. My friend really enjoyed her shrimp risotto. My husband enjoyed his rigatoni Bolognese with a side of meatballs, and I had the gluten- free meat lovers pizza. All very delicious!

Amazing amazing amazing. Best pasta and apps I've had in a while!!! Definitely a must try!!! 10/10 service and ambiance as well.

Food was absolutely delicious, ambiance was beautiful and romantic, and the service was great. I'm excited to come back and try other dishes!

Decided to try this place while on a little girls weekend vacation and I am so glad we did! The service was exceptional and the food was so great and delicious! We had the kid's cheese pizza, the cheese ravioli, Cesar salad, fresh bread, tiramisu and the limoncello cake- 5/5!

Yesterday 20 women from the YTC of Saint Pete Beach. Enjoyed a fabulous lunch at your restaurant. The service was excellent. The food all arrived about the same time very hot. Very tasty. We had a great experience. I almost hate to post this review because I'm afraid this restaurant will become so popular that we won't be able to get a reservation to get it

Im visiting from california. This place is close to the hotel we are staying. The food is awesome. The brussels sprouts is great, chicken piccata, bolognese prettt much everything we ordered. Servers are friendly. This place is packed.

What a gem! Atmosphere is dim and relaxing, or romantic if that is the vibe you're wanting. Service could've been a little better, but the food was delicious! Recommend a visit when in the area.

Great food and service! Will definitely recommend to friends and family. So fresh and authentic.

Buona has the best pizza on St Pete Beach! And that's coming from someone who grew up in New Jersey (in other words, I know good pizza!). Thanks Buona for always having fresh and delicious food.

NY pizza was great. There are a lot of chains claiming to be have NY pizza but this restaurant's pizza is the real deal. Also had the eggplant parmigiana, fried mozzarella and salads. Everything was very very good. We did take out and the staff got the order correct and provided us with paper plates and utensils without even asking us if we needed them. Cheese pizza was absolutely the best we have had in a long time.

You have to try this place! I was here once and now came back. It doesn't disappoint me. VERY good italian food. Service is good. The owner is constantly checking on the tables to make sure everything is good. The place is small but it's worth waiting if you have to.